How does 1 John 3:15 define hatred in a believer's heart? Setting the Context John’s first letter contrasts the lifestyle of those who “practice righteousness” with the lifestyle of those still ruled by sin. Love is presented as the unmistakable family trait of God’s children. The Core Verse “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” (1 John 3:15) How Scripture Defines Hatred • Not mere dislike but a settled inner hostility that withholds love • A heart-level breach of the sixth commandment—God sees the intent, not only the act • An ongoing pattern (“hates” is present tense) rather than a passing irritation • A spiritual condition that signals the absence of “eternal life abiding” within Why God Equates Hatred with Murder • Murder begins in the heart (Matthew 5:21-22) • Hatred shares the same root motives—contempt, pride, selfishness • Both deny the image of God in another person (Genesis 9:6) • Both rebel against the law of love that sums up God’s commands (Romans 13:9-10) Supporting Passages • 1 John 2:9-11—Hatred blinds and leaves one “in the darkness until now.” • 1 John 3:14—Love is evidence of passing from death to life; hatred signals remaining in death. • 1 John 4:20—Claiming to love God while hating a brother is called a lie. • James 3:14-16—Bitter envy and selfish ambition are “earthly, unspiritual, demonic.” • John 8:44—The devil is “a murderer from the beginning”; hatred aligns the heart with his nature, not God’s. Indicators of Hidden Hatred • Nursing offense or resentment instead of forgiving (Ephesians 4:31-32) • Secret delight in another’s misfortune (Proverbs 24:17-18) • Slander, gossip, or passive aggression aimed at tearing down (James 4:11) • Indifference to a brother’s need when help is within reach (1 John 3:17) Antidote: Let Love Abide • Remember how God first loved us—Christ laid down His life (1 John 3:16). • Abide in Christ through His Word and Spirit; He produces genuine love (John 15:4-5, 12). • Actively bless those who wrong us; deeds of love starve hatred (Romans 12:20-21). • Walk in the light—confess the sin of hatred immediately and receive cleansing (1 John 1:7-9). When the life of Christ truly abides within, hatred cannot remain hidden; it must yield to the love that proves we belong to Him. |
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